Argument

Why Santorum Could Win in 2012

Social conservative has certain appeal, George Will says.

Don't count out Rick Santorum, the famously conservative former Pennsylvania senator, from the 2012 presidential race, George Will writes in The Washington Post Thursday. Santorum is no spent political force, the columnist says. So far Santorum has made nine trips to each of the three most important early-voting states for the GOP: New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina. His appeal will be largely social; he's been a staunch pro-life advocate. "Never," Santorum says these days, "underestimate the power of the social issues." Will bets that the other candidates focused on "values voters" will balk, giving Santorum a victory in Iowa and helping elevating the conservative above the field. If unemployment sticks above 9 percent, almost any Republican could win, Will says. That Republican just might be Rick Santorum.